Paula Arab

Opinion Writer, Columnist, Media Strategist

Calgary opinion writer with superior writing skills and more than 20 years of experience in mainstream journalism and corporate communications. I am a media professional who has worked in newsrooms across the country and around the world. I have held positions of leadership across multiple media platforms, including radio, television, newspapers, wire services, digital and social media. Most recently I was a member of the Calgary Herald editorial board, and author of Urban Scrawl, a blog about city and municipal issues.

I’m now the owner of a communications consulting company, where I specialize in media strategy, influencing public opinion, media training and digital content. Whether its speeches, blogs, memos or letters to influence makers, I write compelling and engaging content that touches people on many levels. I am currently the executive director for Transformation Calgary, working to bring in an innovative new funding model for cultural institutions. This progressive and visionary work could have major significance to municipalities across the province and country.

For every dollar Canadians pay in taxes, just eight cents ends up with municipalities, arguably the level of government delivering the services deemed most important to citizens. No wonder Canadian mayors are on a constant mad dash for more cash. It feels like they are on a treadmill, going nowhere very fast.

The latest numpty move by the Kensington business association (BRZ) calls into question why these member-driven organizations still exist. They are there to serve their members, not the best interest of the neighbourhood or public at large. The Kensington BRZ is demonstrating this beautifully. First it banned food trucks from Hillhurst and now it has stopped Market Collective from holding its Christmas fair for three weekends in December, at a time when demand is high for locally made gifts, rather than those made in China, which proliferate Kensington gift shops.